Combined steering and braking mechanism



A118 l, 1939. w. w. GILBERT 2,168,201

COMBINED STEERING AND BRAKING MECHANISM Filed April 14, 1938 Chlo: HMA

Patented Aug. 1, 1939 ooMBINED STEERING AND BaAxrNG MucnANrsM Walter W. Gilbert, Stillwater, Minn.

Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,079

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined steering and braking mechanism especially for' use on self-propelled vehicles and it aims to provide structure whereby the steering wheel in addition to operation to effect steering, will also control .the braking mechanism of the vehicle.

It is further, aimed to provide a structure wherein the steering wheel is associated with a steering column and steering post, consisting of pivotally connected parts, and connections to braking mechanism, whereby movement of the steering wheel on the pivot or axis of said parts will eiect the braking operation.

The more speciilc objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, illustrating my improvements, being partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 1. Referring specically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, Ill designates the dashboard of an automobile through which the steering column II,

extends in the usual way, the steering post I2 b eing enclosed thereby as is usual and being rotatable therein, being connected in the usual manner to the usual steering mechanism in an automobile. At the upper end, the steering post I2 has Ea steering wheel I3 connected thereto. Such wheel I3 is adapted to be turned in either direction. as usual, to elIect steering of the automobile or other vehicle through the turning of the post I2,

In accordance with my invention, movementof the wheel I3 is also adapted to apply the brakes of the automobile, either the brakes of two or four wheels, or a. brake applied to the transmission shaft of the vehicle, or otherwise as preferred, such wheel I3, for this purpose, being movablel on an axis parallel to the ground or axes of rotation of the wheels of the automobile and specifically shown as bolts or the equivalent at I4 is provided. 'I'his joint specically has bushing sections I5 and I6, which are pivotally connected together by said bolts I4 and which sections, re-

bout the axis I4, a four bushing pivotal joint (Cl. 'i4-486) spectively, are interiltted with sections IIa and IIb, constituting the steering column II, being fastened in place by binding screws at I'I and I3, respectively. About the joint thus produced, protector sections' I3 are disposed, being engageable at spherical walls 20 and having collars at one end as at 2|, -secured in place by screws 22 to the said sections I5 and I6, screws 22 permitting loosening of the guards or shields I 3, to permit access tothe parts as for inspection, replacement or repair.

The steering post I2 is also in sections as at I2a and I 2b, joined by screws 24 coaxial with the bolts I4.

Through the steering post I2, the usual wires or parts associated with the horn may pass to the button 25, and the light switch rod 23 and any equivalent part may also pass through said steering post. Said light switch rod 26 may be in sections as shown in Figure 3 pivoted together at 26a, coaxial with the bolts I4 and screws 24.

Fastened rigidly to the steering column section IIb is an arm 21 having a link or pitman 23 pivoted thereto at 29 and which in turn is pivoted as at 30 to a bell crank lever 3|, pivoted to a' bracket 32, suitably fastened on the steering column section IIa. The other end of bell crank lever 3l is pivotally connected at 3l to a pitman or rod 33 operatively connected to brake mechanism 34, which may be part of a four wheel brake system, two wheel brake system, a transmission brake or any equivalent. Such brake mechanism '34 is normally held unapplied through the action of a contractile coil spring 35, connected to the lever 3i as in Figure l.

In use, the wheel I3 may be turned as. usual to steer the .vehicle through the turning of the post lI2. In addition, when it is desired to apply or release the brakes represented bythe mechanism 34, the wheel I3 and section IIb of the steering column may be swung on the pivots I4, correspondingly swinging the adjacent mechanism. 'I'his movement is suggested in dotted lines in Figure 1. Through such movement, the brake mechanism 34 is applied through downward movement of the steering wheel I3, through the arm 21, link 2 3, lever 3i. pitman 33 and mechanism 34. Such movement also tensions the spring 35 so that when the wheel I3 is permitted to return to its normal or full line position in Figure 1, the brakes will be released.

The movement of the parts is limited to the two extremes of movement by lugs or shoulders 36 and 31 formed on the bushing sections I5 and I6, the lug 36 limiting movement of the parts to normal position and the lug I1 limiting movement of the parts to brake applying position.

Various changes may be resorted -to provided they fall Within the spirit and scope oi' the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In'. combination with a steering post comprising sections pivotally connected together, a column about said post comprising sections pivotedtogether, an arm extending from one of the sections of vthe column, means operable through movement of the arm to apply braking mechanism, and spring means normally maintaining the post and column sections in operative position for steering and disposed for tensioning through the last mentioned movement so as to restore said sections upon release, to the last mentioned position.

2. In combination with a steering post comprising sections pivotally connected together, a. column Vabout said post comprising sections pivoted together, an arm extending from one of the sections ot the column, means operable through movement of the arm to apply braking mechanism, a bracket on the other steering column section, part of said means being connected to the braket.

3. In combination with a steering post'comprising sections pivotally connected together, a column about said post comprising sections pivoted together, an arm extending from one of the sections of the column, means operable throughA movement loi. the arm to apply braking mechanism, a bracket on the other steering column section, part of said means being connected to thebraket, the steering column sections at the pivots consisting of bushings pivoted together, said bushings being interiitted with the adjacent steering column sections and fastened thereto, means on the bushings limiting movement of the parts to normal position and to brake applying position, and shield members on said sections about the joints.

WALTER W. GILBERT. 

